Improving control room efficiency

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has invested in the latest command and control software which incorporates the voice communication platform and latest mobile technology into one combined solution.

It is the first authority to adopt the latest version of the Capita emergency services system that boasts improved incident report management, communications, routing and crewing functions. For example, the resource information has been expanded to include details of the crew, such as key skills, training and availability.

Automated vehicle location enables the system to mobilise the nearest available and most appropriate resource to an incident, rather than dispatching according to station proximity. It also offers flexible data transfer between different platforms and agencies, giving the authority the potential to explore inter-agency working in the future, which will mean incidents can be dealt with more effectively and efficiently.

Owen Hayward, head of service development at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “In the last year alone, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s control room has responded to 15,358 calls, 8,112 incidents, 1,790 reported fires and approximately 500 road accidents. An effective and efficient command and control system is vital. Our new system will bring a number of marked efficiencies to the work we do. In particular, the ability to identify accurately the nearest appliance to an incident will contribute significantly to providing an effective response to emergencies. The technology also allows us to collaborate more easily with other fire and rescue services to improve resilience of the mobilising arrangements.”